News Digest

Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:05 PM PDT

OREGON - Former Oregon Blind School principal sues

after dismissal

EUGENE (AP) — The former principal of Oregon’s School for the Blind is suing the state, saying he was illegally fired as a whistleblower after expressing concerns, including to a state legislator, about what he saw as problems.

The federal lawsuit, filed in Eugene on Tuesday, says Patterson had ‘‘an important societal obligation,’’ protected by law, to report his concerns.

Patterson seeks back pay with interest, compensation for the difference between his current pay and what he made as principal, and noneconomic damages of $1 million, or an amount determined at trial.

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IDAHO

N. Idaho police say gang presence growing

COEUR D’ALENE (AP) — Authorities in northern Idaho say they are concerned about an increase in home invasions, robberies and assaults between rival gangs, and worry innocent bystanders might end up as victims.

‘‘Where you have these emerging groups, a lot of violence does tend to go unreported,’’ Don Robinson, an FBI supervisor in Coeur d’Alene, told the Coeur d’Alene Press. ‘‘The problem bleeds over to the innocent person next door or the innocent bystander. It’s a huge public safety issue.’’

Robinson said much gang activity goes unreported. Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson said there are 20 documented gang members in the county, and that there are likely more.

‘‘Gangs are here,’’ Watson said. ‘‘We have the same gangs here as they do in Los Angeles.

Two bear attacks reported in E. Idaho

IDAHO FALLS (AP) — Officials with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game have asked Fremont County Commissioners to put in place a food storage ordinance following reports of two bear attacks, one involving a grizzly.

Both attacks happened Monday and no one was seriously injured in either, said Gregg Losinski, spokesman for Fish and Game.

He said a bow hunter from Tennessee reported he was attacked near Big Springs, but was able to fend off the bear with pepper spray.

Also on Monday, a black bear ripped open a family’s tent, apparently searching for food, at a campsite near Ashton, he said.

Dry conditions in the region appear to have forced bears to expand their search for food.

‘‘Anybody out there hiking or camping needs to be really careful,’’ he said.

Fish and Game is recommending that the food ordinance come with a penalty for leaving food unsecured.